POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY.

Notwithstanding the importance of the principal subject which stood for debate in the House of Commons last night—the Jewish Disabilities Bill —a discussion of more animated interest came before it, on a startling announcement by the Times in the morning, about a seizure of "arms" and M. Kossuth. We copy the debate nearly as it stands in the Times ; only omitting a few passages of commentary.

Sir Joanne WALMSLET—" I desire to ask the Home Secretary a question which has reference to an illustrious exile in this country, whom I am sure it would be the wish of the House and the country to protect as long as he conducted himself according to the laws and regulations of the country. I am induced to ask the question in consequence of a statement which I find in the leading journal this morning, to the following effect— '"We believe that we are correctly informed when we state that, upon intelligence received by the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Commissioners

of Police for the Metropolis, active measures have been taken to substantiate the charges which have long been vaguely preferred against M. Kossuth and his adhe- rents. Upon this legal information a house in the occupation of M. Kossuth was searched yesterday morning at an early hour by the competent authorities, acting, we presume, under the Secretary of State's warrant ; and the result of this investigation was the discovery of a large store of arms, ammunition, and materials of war.' "The question I have to ask is, whether there is any and what foundation for this statement as respects Louis Kossuth ; and also whether the Government

has given any assurances to Austria or to other foreign powers with respect to the surveillance of political refugees ? Perhaps it might be to the con- venience of the House if the honourable gentleman the Secretary to the Treasury would permit me at the same time to move that the House at its rising adjourn to Monday." (Laughter.) Lord PALMERSTON—" I shall confine myself to an answer to the question, as if no motion had been made. The facts are these. Information having

been received that there were in a house somewhere near Rotherhithe, not

occupied by 31. Kossuth, a quantity of warlike stores, and especially a larger quantity of gunpowder than is permitted by law to be held by private indi-

viduals, a search-warrant was issued in the ordinary course by a Magistrate, and executed by the Police. The house in question was entered ; and in it were found upwards of seventy cases, closely packed, and iutended, appa- rently, for transmission to some distance, and containing several thousands of

war-rockets, such as are used,, not at Vauxhall—(Laughter)—but for the pur- poses of war. (" Hear, hear ! ") There were also discovered a considerable

number of rockets in various stages of preparation, 2000 shells, not as yet

loaded, a very considerable quantity of that composition with which rockets are filled, and 600 pounds of gunpowder. ("Hear, hear ! ") These things were

seized by the Police. Whom they belong to, and who was employed in

making them, the House probably will not expect me, in the present stage of the matter, to say anything about. ("Bear, hear ! ") These will be questions for future consideration ; but the House, no doubt, will be of

opinion that, the Secretary of State having been informed that there was reason to believe that such an immense quantity of warlike stores was ac-

cumulated in a private dwelling, was justified in taking these steps—(Cheers)

—for the purpose of getting possession of these arms, and founding upon their seizure any subsequent proceedings which the Law-advisers of the Go-

vernment may think proper. ("Hear.") With respect to the latter part of my honourable friend 8 question, I can assure him that he is mistaken if he supposes that the Government arc acting upon any other declaration of their intentions than that given by them in their place in Parliament, to the effect that we should think it our duty to do our utmost to enforce the law of this country in order to prevent that shelter, which I trust will always be given here to foreign exiles, whatever political cause may drive them. to these shores, from being abused for the purpose of organizing and carrying on hostile proceedings against foreign powers." ("Bear, hear ! Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE—" The statement of the noble Lord is calculated not only to alarm this House, but the country ; and therefore I ask him whether he does not know that the house referred to has been a sort of manufactory for rockets for the last six years ? ("Hear, hear ! ") After all, it is in no dwellinghouse at all where these rockets are made up ; for I have made inquiry as to the real state of the case. With respect to M. Kos-

suth, the whole statement in the Timer appears to be a perfect fabrication ; and as to the manufactory at Rotherhithe, I believe that a most illegal pro- ceeding has taken place, which will require not only explanation here, but may also be the subject of inquiry in a court of law. (" Hear, )ear!") The place belongs to a certain gentleman of the name of Hale, who is another Captain Warner. (Laughter.) Those individuals are two rivals in the same line ; the only difference being that Mr. Hale is the more successful rival of the two. (Laughter.) Does the noble Lord mean to say that he does not know that six years ago Mr. Hale took out a patent for the manufacture of these rockets, and offered it over and over again to the Government ? Denmark, Prussia, and different foreign powers, have pur- chased rockets from him under his patent ; he has been lately manu- facturing a large quantity ; he has had orders from Cuba lately ; and within the lust few months he has offered to our Government the whole of his pre- sent stock of these rockets ; which they would no more accept than those of Captain Warner. (Laughter.) I remember going to see, with Lord In- gestre, [now Earl Talbot,] who was Captain Warner's great advocate, similar warlike instruments and implements which were in Lord Salisbury's house in Arlington Street. You might as well have taken out then a Bow Street warrant to search Lord Salisbury's house as now to enter the premises in Rotherhithe. ("Hear, hear!") I am informed by a relation of Mr. Hale, that not one ounce of gunpowder has been found on the premises ; that these rockets have been sold at Rotherhithe, were originally made near the Go- vernment arsenal at Woolwich, and were well known to the Government. ("Bear, hear!") Why, one would suppose from the noble Lord's statement, that we were on the brink of a revolution, or were getting up revolutions in Europe. But the fact is, that no gunpowder was found in the manufactory; which is no private house at all, for Mr. Hale lives at Chelsea, and was sent for the moment the Police entered his premises. I believe that a very illegal act has been committed by the Police. And now they are trying to ride off ou the plea that it was by a warrant under the authority of the Customhouse because there was a quantity of gunpowder in the place ; whereas the com- position is not gunpowder, and the Customhouse has nothing to do with it. I thought it right to state this to the House, as it may be alarmed by the speech of the noble Lord ; and I can say that the statement I have made is from Mr. Hale's own son, and I believe it to be perfectly correct." ("Hear, hear!")

After a short pause, during which Lord Palmerston did not rise to answer Mr. Duncombe's question, Mr. BRIGHT rose to put another. He alluded to his having appeared on the same platform with Kossuth ; and, remarking that M. Kossuth's character must be as dear to him as any other man's,— that he deserved exculpation if defamed by a journal supposed often to speak with an intimate knowledge of the intentions of Government,—he put his question twice. "I wish to ask the noble Lord, whether there is at present any reason to believe that M. Kossuth is in any degree whatsoever com- promised in the matter, as described by the noble Lord himself, or as de- scribed by the honourable Member for Finsbury, any more than any mem- ber of the Orleans party now in this country ? ("Hear, hear ! ") * * * I ask the noble Lord, whether there is any ground or proof whatever that M. Kossuth is compromised with or in any, manner connected with this affair ? and I wish to have an explicit answer. ' Lord PATAtERSTON—" As to the question put to me by my honourable friend behind me, he seemed to me to know so much more about the matter than I, that if there was to be an interchange of question and answer be- tween us, I think I ought to have put the question to him. (Laughter.) However, it was from no disrespect to him that I did not answer the ques- tion he put to me, and I must refer him to his own knowledge for an an- swer." (A laugh.)

Mr. Tnostss Duseosrex—" I ask the noble Lord, does he not know that war-rockets were made by Mr. Hale ?" ("Hear, hear !") Lord PaLsrEnsTost—"No, I really do not know it." (Laughter.)

Mr. T. DONC031BE—" Will the noble Lord inform this House, to whom these premises, and the arms that were seized, belong ? " Lord PALHERSTON—" As to this second question, also, of my honourable friend, I plead ignorance of the facts—C" _Hear ! " and laughter)—though I do not dispute the assertion that war-rockets have been manufactured for the last six years. As to the question put to me by my honourable friend the Member for Manchester as to M. Kossuth, I am sure the House will feel that, in the present stage of the proceedings—with no disrespect to him—I cast no imputation—I have not done so, upon any person. ("Hear, hear!") I have stated that it remains to be ascertained whom these premises belonged to, and who were the persons chiefly concerned in this matter ; but I am sure the House will feel it would not be proper for me to enter now into any further details." (Cheers.) Lord DEDLEv Sruear—who arose amid some cries of "Oh, oh "—rebuked Lord Palmerston for diverting the attention of the House, instead of answer- ing direct questions, by pleasantries, which could neither alleviate the suffer- ing of an. exile nor raise the noble Secretary in the estimation of the House. Lord Dudley nailed down Lord Palmerston's admission that there was no imputation on M. Kossuth. "And I must say with regard to that dis- tinguished individual, that I see no reason whatever why persons who have hitherto felt reason to approve and admire him—and I certainly am one— should withdraw those feelings, at any rate at present. If he has done any- thing wrong, if the Government can fix upon him any improper conduct, then it will be time for those who have hitherto thought well of him to alter their opinions. Now, I am able to state that M. Kossuth himself denies all know- ledge whatsoever of these transactions ; and that he has declared in writing that he had no knowledge whatsoever of them Until they were shown to him this morning in the paper, which has so hastily, to say the least of it., given currency to this charge." ("Hear hear?")

Mr. Aendostnir—" I know nothing of this ease. (Laughter.) I should bin to know whether any gentleman knows more. (Continued laughter.) But, although I do not know anything of the case, or of M. Kossuth, and had not seen or heard of this statement when I came into the House, yet, having heard the remarks of the noble Lord and others, a sense of justice, which every Englishman ought to feel, compels me to express my opinion upon the subject. * * * It is clear that nothing has been established up to this moment against M. Kossuth ; and I need say no more than that it is for the credit of this country-, and, I may say with great deference, of this public organ of information, which travels so widely over the world, that when a statement has been given under misinformation, and has travelled so widely, the fact that that statement is not proved should travel quite as widely by means of the same paper." ("Hear, hear !") The subject then dropped ; the motion for adjournment being carried.

The third reading of the Jewish Disabilities Bill, prefaced by the pre- sentation of many petitions, was opposed by Mr. Ctrzrzusna Bauer, with a motion that the bill be read a third time that day six months. The de- bate which followed, although it included some animated speeches, was distinguished by few novelties. The bill was supported by Mr. Nam, Mr. Sergeant MURPHY, the SOLICITOR•GENERAL, Mr. BRIGHT Mr. Fire- ROY, and Lord Joitx Rosszas. ; opposed by Mr. WHITESIDE, Vs. CHILD, Mr. Goriaienx, Mr. Ross MOORE, Mr. WALPOLE, and.Sir ROBERT PEEL. The novelty lay rather in the force than the freshness of the attack on either side.